Requisite New Year Prattle

Well here we are at the beginning of a new year, the second day of the fourth year of the third millennium. A lot of good things happened in the last year, not the least of which was moving into this apartment with Elaine. My job remains abnormally satisfying. We made it to New York in June. I'm finally seeing light as I dig myself out of the hole. Elaine and I are both painting again. It's a good life here.

There are always flies in the ointment, but 2003 was a pretty good year over all.

So what's coming up? I'm not really the type for New Year's resolutions, but I have a few things I've already resolved to do. They all revolve around one larger goal, getting published (which I'm not necessarily planning on this year). To that end:

• No more running in the special olympics: It's too easy to spend so much time arguing over things where no amount of arguing is going to change anything and consequently not attending to those things that I do have power over.
• More drawing: I intend to have no less than 12 finished drawings by the end of the year
• More painting: 6 finished paintings
• More attention to my portfolio: this means paying more attention to my website than Gothic BC, going back to taking pictures with an eye to painting and drawing, developing a new artist statement, and generally getting my stuff in a submittable state.
• Spending less time with people who suck time and energy: the people I like best are those that inspire me in one way or another. Those that don't inspire me just take up my time.
• Smoking and drinking more: yeah, that's right, more. Cigars are rolled in inspiration, and if in vino veritas then in spirits there is art.

There is more: I'll go back to New York again this year and draw the classical sculptures in the Met. And don't be surprised if you see me at the club in a tie — I'm getting too old to dress like a teenager.

There is an underlying, longer-term plan that getting published is just a part of, and behind it all are some guiding principles that have been with me in one way or another for a long time

1. "Always be the better person,"
2. "Always cover your ass,"
3. "You can't please everyone. You're lucky if you please yourself," and,
4. "There are no contradictions. If you perceive a contradiction then one of your premises must be wrong."

The Missing Option

Wise Words from Robbie Burns

Traditional Scottish

Modern English

Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot And days o' lang syne? Chorus For auld lang syne, my Dear For auld lang syne We'll tak a cup o kindness yet For auld lang syne And surely ye'11 be your pint-stowp And surely I'll be mine And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet For auld lang syne We twa hae run about the braes And pu'd the gowans fine But we've wandered mony a weary foot Sin auld lang syne We twa hae paidlet i' the burn Frae morning sun sill dine But seas between us braid hae roar'd Sin auld lang syne And there's a hand, my trusty feire And gie's a hand o' thine And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught For auld lang syne

Should old friends be forgotten and never remembered? Should old friends be forgotten and the days they shared together? Chorus For days now in the past, my dear For days now in the past We'll drink a toast of kind remembrance For days now in the past You can pay for your pint tankard and I will pay for mine We'll drink a toast of kind remembrance For days now in the past We two have run about the hillsides and pulled wild daisies but now we are far apart in distance From those days now in the past We two have paddled in the stream from morning untill noon but oceans now lie between us since those days now in the past So take my hand, my trusty friend and give me your hand and we will take a hearty drink together In memory of those days now in the past